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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 116 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  2. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  3. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  6. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  20. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  23. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  24. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. pitch — completely
  2. craft — boats
  3. craft — a skill
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. face — to confront
  6. band — a ring
  7. bound — tied together
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. face — to point toward
  12. saw — the tool
  13. bound — obliged
  14. board — to get on
  15. face — part of the head
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. bound — certain
  18. saw — the tool
  19. pitch — a sales talk
  20. pitch — a sports field
  21. board — a committee
  22. band — a music group
  23. band — a rubber band
  24. craft — a handicraft

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com